The Impact of Raindrop Size Distributions on the Propagation Characteristics and Differential Parameters of X-Band Polarimetric Weather Radar

This paper studies the impact of different raindrop size distribution choices on the propagation characteristics and scattering parameters of polarimetric weather radar at x-band operating frequencies. Firstly, the importance of dual-polarization radar in meteorological observations and its basic principles are introduced, explaining the key role of raindrop size distribution models in radar data interpretation. Then, numerical simulations and comparative analyses are conducted using several common raindrop size distribution models and measured raindrop size distribution data. Through these comparisons, we evaluate the impact of different raindrop size distribution models on radar observation parameters under various rainfall intensities and types, and we compare the changes in multiple parameters with rainfall intensity. The results show that the choice of raindrop spectrum significantly affects the propagation characteristics and polarization parameters of the radar. Especially under heavy rainfall conditions, the deviation of the model is more significant, and the combination of multiple parameters can improve this situation. The conclusions of this study provide data references for the application of dual-polarization radar in precipitation measurement, emphasizing the importance of considering raindrop size distribution choices in data processing and analysis. Additionally, it offers valuable insights for correcting rain attenuation and improving precipitation estimation models.